Romans chapter 2 discusses the condemnation of both Jews and Gentiles, emphasizing that moral corruption and the judgment of sin are timeless concerns. Paul admonishes Jews for their hypocrisy, as they possess the law yet often fail to uphold it, leading to God's name being dishonored. The chapter addresses the nature of true circumcision, which is not merely physical but represents spiritual adherence to God's standards, highlighting that both Jew and Gentile are accountable for their actions before God.

1. ROMANS
Chapter Two
The Jews Under Condemnation
with the Gentile
Bill Fritz
Adult Education
Fellowship Bible Church

2. Chapter Outline
Romans Chapter 2
2:1-5. No excuse for sin.
2:6-13. No escape from judgment.
2:14-16. The Law hearers and doers
2:17-29. Jews sense of moral & superiority

3. Paul Admonishes the Crowd
Roman 2:1-4
Scripture Reading
Verses 1-12

4. Discussion Questions
Romans 2:1-5
(1) Who was Paul talking to and how does this apply to
modern day society?
“The majority of scholars, however, see the Jew as
the subject throughout chapter 2.” (HCSB)
Moral corruption know no time period restraints.
The same immorality which existed then exists today
even among the Christian community.
Judgement of others is a defense mechanism; by
focusing the attention on someone else's
shortcomings takes the light off our own.

5. The Jews thought because they were God’s chosen
covenant people they were better than the non-
circumcised.
Jamieson writes: “From those without, the apostle now
turns to those within the pale of revealed religion, the
self-righteous Jews, who looked down upon the
uncovenanted heathen as beyond the pale of God's
mercies, within which they deemed themselves secure,
however inconsistent their life may be.” [Jamieson, Fausette, and
Brown]
Ref V3: What was the Jewish attitude towards the
Christian proselytes?

6. Picturing sin as water, held back by a dam. What happens
when the dam breaks?
Paul is referring to the great day of wrath. Read Johns
Revelation 6:12 – 17.
You might be frustrated because you see unpunished
sin. However the day of judgment is coming and God
wrath will be poured out.
Judging others while you attempt to hide your own sin
is self-deceit. God, who sees all records the sins of the
unrepentant.
Paul wrote the following to the church of Emphasis:
For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing, Whether good or
evil. [Ecc 12:14 NKJV]

7. Discussion Questions
How are the Christians to be judged?
His judgments are true and just. Rev 19:2
Who will judge us?
Jesus
What criteria do you think
He will use?
1. Cor 3:11-13
2. Cor 5:10
3. Rev 22:12
Are you ready to stand before the
Bema?

8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Christians are judged according to their
good and bad works; does this mean the
bad works can cancel out the good
works?
This is the judgment of the saved. We are
not talking about losing salvation, but
rather receiving rewards earned and lost
by our works.
How can a saved person sin when the
Holy Spirit resides within?
Not listening to the Holy Spirit, when he
speaks to our spirit to do this or that.

9. What should our attitude be towards good works.
It is good to seek to do good works with the
anticipation of receiving honor and recognition
from our Lord (ref to Bema judgment).
To seek to do good works to be honored by men for
those good works, destroys the good works. Good
works should be a natural act of listening and
following the direction of the Holy Spirit, who
dwells within the sanctified.
“The most likely one is that works are the outcome
of a person's faith.” HCSB
How do we know what Jesus is looking for in our
works?
Read Matthew 25:31-46 and discuss
Who is Jesus talking to in verses 6-10?
Jesus is talking to the unrighteous (ref to 1:32 &
2:2).
Why the continued reference to “first the Jew”?
The Jew had the Law and knew what was
unrighteous and have no excuse.

10. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Is the law recorded and if so where?
The first five books of the Bible called the Torah.
Are the laws just the Ten Commandments?
No the laws are the culmination of the Ten
Commandments and all other ordinances written in the
Torah.
What was the purpose of the Law, and why was it given
to the Jews?
The law sets boundries.
The law establishes what sin is.
The law is instructions on worship.
Will the Gentiles be judged by the law?
If not by the law, then how will the Gentiles be
judged?
Read Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 and 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

11. JAMIESON, FAUCETTE AND BROWN
“As touching the Jews, in whose ears the
written law is continually resounding, the
condemnation of as many of them as are
found sinners at the last involves no
difficulty; but even as respects the
heathen, who are strangers to the law in
its positive and written form--since they
show how deeply it is engraven on their
moral nature, which witnesses within
them for righteousness and against
iniquity, accusing or condemning them
according as they violate or obey its stern
dictates--their condemnation also for all
the sin in which they live and die will
carry its dreadful echo in their own
breasts.”

12. SCRIPTURE READING
Romans 2:17-24
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Paul gives an admonishment to
whom?
To the Jewish hypocrites. Enforcing
the fact they know the Law, and in
knowing the law have no excuse for
sinning.
How were the Jews hypocritical?
They would teach those who were
not as well versed in the Law as
they were, and yet were guilty of
violating that which they taught.
This shotgun approach was not
meant for all Jews just the
unrighteousness who by their
actions caused others to sin.
Paul

13. “2:24 Paul cited Isa 52:5 from the Greek OT (the
Septuagint, or LXX) as support that Jewish sin
resulted in God's name being dishonored among
the pagan nations when the Jews were defeated
and exiled. To pagan perception, Yahweh seemed
powerless since He did not protect His people.”
(HCSB)
Paul knew their hearts because his heart was
like theirs before his conversion, full of wicked
thoughts. HSCB

14. Matthew Henry’s Commentary
“The ruin of sinners is their walking after a hard and
impenitent heart. Their sinful doings are expressed by
the strong words, "treasuring up wrath." In the
description of the just man, notice the full demand of the
law. It demands that the motives shall be pure, and
rejects all actions from earthly ambition or ends. In the
description of the unrighteous, contention is held forth as
the principle of all evil. The human will is in a state of
enmity against God. Even Gentiles, who had not the
written law, had that within, which directed them what to
do by the light of nature. Conscience is a witness, and
first or last will bear witness. As they nature. Conscience
is a witness, and first or last will bear witness. As they
kept or broke these natural laws and dictates, their
consciences either acquitted or condemned them.
Nothing speaks more terror to sinners, and more comfort
to saints, than that Christ shall be the Judge. Secret
services shall be rewarded, secret sins shall be then
punished, and brought to light.” [Henry, Matthew (2012). Matthew Henry's
Concise Commentary. WORDsearch. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com.]
Matthew Henry
a nonconformist minister
and author, born in Wales

15. Read Romans 2:25-28
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
The Jewish converts were convinced that the Gentiles
must first become Jews (be circumcised) before they
could be saved.
How can a man who has been circumcised become
uncircumcised?
As circumcision was a sign of the Abrahamic covenant
by not adhering to the law they were breaking the
covenant, and therefore the sign of the covenant had no
significance.
What type of circumcision was Paul speaking of?
He was talking about compliance with the law and
thereby by their actions were circumcised in spirit and
covered by the Abrahamic covenant.
Spirit circumcision is like circumcision of the flesh in
that sin is cut away and cast into the fire(Deu 10:16;
30:6; Jer 4:4.